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HERBALPEDIA
SHEPHERD’S PURSE
mother’s heart, case weed, St. James’ Wot,
Rattle pouches, Clappedepouch, pickpurse,
cocowort, poor man’s permecity, shepherd’s
sprout; Kaletka Pasterska, bydelnik, tobolek,
Tasnik (Polish); Hirtentäschel(kraut) (German);
bourse-à-pasteur, capselle (French)
Description: An annual or biennial growing 624 inches in height depending on growing
conditions. The main leaves, which are green,
rough and divided like a feather, form a rosette
from which the erect stem rises to tiny, white,
4-petaled flowers. The stem rises from the
crown of the taproot. The small, flat, heartshaped pods are the best way to identify this
plant. The pods contain a portion of the
roughly 40,000 seeds a single plant is capable
of producing.
A sticky, sweet substance
covering the seeds attracts various microscopic
animals that, once trapped, are unable to
extricate themselves from their predicament.
By absorbing the protein and other nutrients
from these creatures, the Capsella seeds gain
the necessary strength to develop into vigorous
new shepherd’s purses.
Capsella bursa-pastoris
[kap-SEL-luh BUR-suh PAS-tor-is]
(syn Thlaspi bursa-pastoris)
Family: Cruciferae
Names: caseweed, lady’s purse, pepper and
salt, shepherd’s bag, witches’ pouches,
pickpocket, toywort; shovelweed, shepherd’s
heart, peppergrass, poor man’s pharmacy,
Cultivation: Grow it from seed in a sun or
partial shade with moderate water. Plant in
spring and self-seeds freely. Tolerates poor
conditions. Whole plants are cut from late
spring to autumn and used fresh for extracts.
Leaves are picked fresh for culinary use.
History: This herb’s common name derives
from the appearance of the seed pods, which
resemble small, heart-shaped purses. From the
Latin capsella, small box, referring to the shape
of the fruit, a silicle. During the First World
War, when the standard herbal medicine for
staunching blood were unobtainable in Britain,
shepherd’s purse was used as an alternative.
The Irish name clappedepouch alludes to the
former custom of lepers begging at major
crosswords. They received their alms in a
wooden cup that was attached to a long pole,
reminiscent of a shepherd’s purse seedpod at
the end of its stalk. Language of Flowers: I
offer you all.
Properties: antiscorbutic, diuretic, astringent,
hemostatic, alterative
Constituents: flavonoids, alcoloid (bursin),
polypeptides, choline, acetylcholine, histamine,
amino-phenol, diosmin, and tyramine; tannins,
minerals
Energetics: pungent, sweet, neutral
Meridians/Organs affected: liver, stomach
Medicinal Uses: When dried and infused, it
yields a tea as a specific for stopping
hemorrhages of the stomach, lungs, and
especially of the kidneys. Its antiscorbutic,
stimulant and diuretic action caused it to be
much used in kidney complaints and dropsy.
Used to stop heavy menstruation. A tincture
made from the fresh herb and taken every hour
or two is one of the most effective hemostatics.
To make a styptic solution, boil 3 oz of herb in
two pints of hot water. Internal dose is 2 tsp
every four hours. To make a healing ointment,
simmer for a half hour one heaping Tbsp of
ground plantain and shepherd’s purse leaves in
4 oz of lard or suet. Strain into containers. An
astringent herb, it disinfects the urinary tract in
cases of cystitis, and is taken for diarrhea.
Because of its reputed stimulant, diuretic, and
antiscorbutic action, the weed has been much
used in the treatment of numerous kidney
complaints.
Also for hypertension and
postpartum bleeding. Research suggests that
the plant is anti-inflammatory and reduces
fever. The secret of Capsella’s blood-clotting
ability is its content of vitamin K. For an
almost instant arrest of nosebleed, many people
simply soak a cotton swab with the freshly
expressed juice of shepherd’s purse and insert it
into the affected nostril.
Many people take an infusion as a
refreshing spring tonic, in the belief that it
relieves such circulatory disturbances as
hypertension, varicose veins, arteriosclerosis
and hemorrhoids.
European herbalists have
found that a sitz bath infused with shepherd’s
purse is particularly soothing for hemorrhoid
sufferers. Add a strong decoction of the leaves
to warm bathwater, which should be deep
enough to cover the kidneys as well. At the
end of 20 minutes, instead of drying oneself,
wrap up in a terry robe or bath sheet and,
covered with a light blanket, sweat for an hour
in bed.
Shepherd’s purse also plays an
important role in a mixture recommended for
bed-wetting. Herbalist Richard Lucas suggests
steeping for a few hours ½ oz each of
shepherd’s purse, agrimony, lady’s slipper,
corn silk, oak bark and crushed licorice root in
2 pints boiling water. Strain, add 2 oz glycerin.
Dose: one teaspoonful before each meal and at
bedtime.
Infusion: Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2
tsp of the dried herb and leave to infuse for 10
minutes. If it is used for menstrual conditions,
it should be drunk every 2-3 hours during and
just before the period. Otherwise drink it three
times a day.
Tincture: Take 1-2 ml of the tincture three
times a day.
In Chinese medicine to cool the blood,
dysentery and eye problems.
Remedies:
Postpartum Bleeding: Fresh shepherd’s purse
tincture, 40-60 drops, given in water soon after
birthing, acts quickly to stop bleeding. Repeat
again every two to five minutes if needed.
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: 2 parts shepherd’s
purse (fresh); 2 parts lady’s mantle leaves and
flowers; 3 parts yarrow; 1 part partridgeberry
leaves. Make into tincture and take 20-60
drops of tincture 4-6 times a day when bleeding
or take 30-50 drops every hour or more if
needed.
Toxicity: Do not take during pregnancy
Culinary Uses. The young leaves are rich in
vitamins A, B, and C and may be included in
salads or cole slaw, raw or cooked; the leaves
and fruits in soup, especially combined with
peppergrass.
The leaves have a distinct
peppery flavor which becomes more
pronounced as the leaves mature. When the
plant is very young, the roots are still tender
and can be eaten. Later on, they become too
woody. Shepherd’s Purse is eaten in Eastern
Asia. In Japan it is one of the seven herbs of
spring, traditionally cooked with rice and other
wild plants.
The pungent seeds can be
employed as a spice when dried and ground.
They make an excellent seasoning for soups
and stews. A good method for drying the seeds
is to spread them in a single layer on a cheese
cloth lined cookie sheet. Place in warm place
for three to four days. Store tightly covered.
To freeze Shepard’s Purse, pour boiling water
over rinsed greens; drain well and pack into
freezer containers. Frozen greens are best
when used within eight months.
Recipes:
Shepard’s Purse Seed Salad Dressing
1 cup salad oil
½ cup tomato sauce
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup green Shepard’s Purse seeds
½ tsp salt
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
½ tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
Place all ingredients in blender and
blend until smooth. Serve over salad greens.
(How to Prepare Common Wild Foods)
Shepherd’s Purse Macaroni and Cheese
1 cup elbow macaroni
2/3 cup green Shepherd’s Purse seeds
½ cup milk
½ lb mild cheddar cheese
¼ tsp pepper
1 cup buttered bread crumbs
Boil macaroni and seeds in salted water
until macaroni is tender. Drain. Place in
casserole. Heat milk and cheese over low heat
until cheese is melted. Add pepper and pour
over macaroni; toss with fork. Top with
crumbs and bake 325F for 35 minutes. (How
to Prepare Common Wild Foods)
Potato Shepherd’s Purse Soup
2 cups water
3 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup onion, diced
½ cup shepherd’s purse greens, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 tsp salt
2 strips bacon, fried crisp
1 2/3 cup milk
Cook potatoes in water along with
onion, Shepherd’s purse, celery and salt until
potatoes are tender. Puree in blender after
slightly cooled until smooth. Add milk and
heat thoroughly. Do not boil. Sprinkle with
bacon. (How to Prepare Common Wild Foods)
Shepherd’s Purse and Egg Casserole
½ lb Shepherd’s Purse greens
½ lb either chickweed, nettle, dandelion or
miner’s lettuce greens, chopped
¼ cup margarine
½ cup flour
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups milk
½ cup bread crumbs
2 hard-cooked eggs, sliced thin
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 strip bacon, cut into 1” lengths
Simmer greens in ½ cup water in
covered pot for 10 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
Melt margarine in saucepan. Blend in flour and
salt. Add milk slowly and heat, stirring
constantly until sauce is thickened. Butter
casserole, layer ½ bread crumbs, ½ greens, ½
eggs, ½ sauce and ½ cheese. Repeat layers.
Arrange bacon on top. Bake in 350F oven for
40 minutes. (How to Prepare Common Wild
Foods)
Shepherd’s Purse Cheese Mold
1 3 oz pkg lemon flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 cup whipped cream
1 cup mild cheddar cheese, grated
¼ cup pimento, diced
½ cup black olives, sliced
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup green Shepherd’s Purse seeds
½ cup pecans, chopped
¼ cup sweet gherkins, minced
Dissolve gelatin in water. Chill until
mixture thickens. Beat gelatin mixture with
electric mixer. Fold in remaining ingredients.
Pour into mold and chill until firm. (How to
Prepare Common Wild Foods)
Reference:
Better Health with Culinary Herbs, Ben Charles
Harris, Weathervane Books, 1972; ISBN: 0517-185229
Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses, Deni
Brown, Dorling Kindersley, 1995; ISBN: 07894-0184-3
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, Andrew
Chevallier, Dorling Kindersley, 1996; ISBN: 07894-1067-2
Just Weeds, Pamela Jones, Prentice Hall, 1991;
ISBN: 0-13-514118-4
Roots of Healing, Deb Soule, Citadel Press,
1996; ISBN: 0-8065-1578-3
How to Prepare Common Wild Foods, Darcy
Williamson, Maverick Publications, 1988;
ISBN: 0-89288-022-8
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http://www.herbalpedia.com Editor: Maureen Rogers. Copyright 2006.
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